US-Iran war live updates: Rubio says Operation Epic Fury ‘is over’, Hegseth says attacks still possible

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has pushed the message that the US has won in Iran, but accepted that there is more to be done.

“Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation,” Mr Rubio stated.

“We’re not cheering for an additional situation to occur.

“We would prefer the path of peace.

“What the president would prefer is a deal. He would prefer to sit down, work out a memorandum of understanding for future negotiations that touches on all the key topics that need to be addressed, a full opening of the Strait so the world can get back to normal. He prefers that be negotiated.

“That is so far not the route that Iran has chosen.

“So the result has been that the United States has to do something about the fact that we are the only nation on earth that can do anything to open up a lane within the Strait of Hormuz, to get product and to rescue these people that are trapped in there.”

Mr Rubio said Iran is now facing “generational destruction to their country”.

The US has made an enormous shift in declaring Operation Epic Fury, the furious assault on Iran which lasted 66 days, is over.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that the US may still shoot, but it will only be done when shot at first.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says the US Military might is now focusing on freeing ships, under Project Freedom, trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, some of which have reportedly been left without supplies.

A fragile ceasefire remains in place, according to the US, but attention is now squarely focused on opening the key waterway and finding a permeant agreement.

The US has framed the decision as a win for them, something Iran will likely dispute, claiming a win for the regime.

For weeks, Iran has been steadfast in refusing to agree to a more permanent ceasefire until the US stops attacking and clears out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Although the US will remain in the strait for now, the move to stop attacks and clear the waterway could offer US President Donald Trump “an out” of his war.

Today’s announcement is unlikely to return oil prices to pre-war costs, something that has sparked global chaos due to the economic impact and decreased supply, but it is a move that could take the war nearer to completion.

In Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s address, he said although Operation Epic Fury was now complete, the US was still prepared to unleash is targetted.

Mr Rubio characterised the effort to escort stranded tankers through the strait as defensive in nature, one day after the US military said it had destroyed several Iranian small boats, as well as cruise missiles and drones.

“There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first,” Mr Rubio told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Iran’s military had been reduced to firing “peashooters” and Tehran wanted peace, despite public sabre-rattling.

“They play games, but let me just tell you, they want to make a deal,” Trump said.

US and Iranian officials have held one round of face-to-face peace talks, but attempts to set up further meetings have failed.

Iran has developed a new system to manage maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ships intending to cross the waterway will be emailed by the newly-formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority outlining rules and regulations for passage, state media reported.

Vessels will also be required to obtain a transit permit before crossing the Strait.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that Operation Epic Fury is over, adding that the US does not need a formal written agreement with Iran to end hostilities against Iran.

Speaking at the White House, Mr Rubio said, “We don’t have to have the actual agreement written out, but we have to have a diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics that they are willing to negotiate on and the extent and the concessions they’re willing to make at the front end in order to make those talks worthwhile.”

He said that Operation Epic Fury, the initial phase of US attacks on Iran, is now over, with the conflict shifting into what President Donald Trump has called “Project Freedom”.

Mr Rubio described the operation as “a favour to the world”, adding: “I don’t want to mislead you, the primary responsibility for this Project Freedom is on the United States, because we’re the only country that can project power in that part of the world the way we’re doing now.”

Donald Trump has declined to spell out what would constitute a breach of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, as tensions continue to rise.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump said, “You’ll find out” when pressed on what would trigger a response, adding: “You’ll find out, because I’ll let you know … they know what to do. They know what not to do.”

He also claimed Iran is “looking around for little boats to try and compete with our great Navy.”